Abstract: Toxic wastes are destroyed by contact thereof with a steam plasma jet and immediately thereafter with an oxidizing medium followed by washing of the resultant gaseous product with an alkaline medium. An apparatus for carrying out this method is in the form of a tubular assembly adapted to be received on a plasmatron in axial alignment therewith.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tightening or loosening screw-type connections, in which the screw bolt is stimulated to oscillate longitudinally, the natural frequency of the bolt is measured and the excitation frequency is made to follow the changing natural frequency during the bolting process with a minimum, necessary excitation energy, so that the screw bolt attains a permanent state of resonance.

Abstract: A flat-membrane separating arrangement has a plurality of separating blocks each having a packet of ring-shaped membrane-coated filter disks spaced from one another in an axial direction to form therebetween intermediate gaps which are open peripherally, assembling elements arranged to assemble the filter disks in the packet and including a plurality of spacing rings located between the filter disks and tensioning and permeate-guiding pins connecting the filter disks with one another, supplying elements for supplying raw solution or concentrate flow upstream of the packet of filter disks and including a plurality of curved guiding blades with a deflecting disk having a central projection at the side of the packet and with a first limiting member at the side opposite the packet, permeate-withdrawing elements including a second limiting member connected with the packet downstream of the latter and provided with a central opening for permeate withdrawal, and an annular wall extending along the supplying elements

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the drying and removal of hydrocarbons from gases.It is the object of the invention to increase the absorption ability of the solvent for aromatic hydrocarbons including naphthalene and water, to save material and energy, to lower the investment- and operating costs, as well as to avoid operational disturbances and to increase the safety during gas treatment, gas transmittance and gas distribution. This object is accomplished by the invention in that a mixture of glycol, N-methyl-.epsilon.-caprolactam and water is used as solvent. The mixture comprises 79.9 to 97 percent by weight of glycol, 2 to 20 percent by weight of N-methyl-.epsilon.-caprolactam and 0.1 to 1 percent by weight of water. The regeneration temperature of the charged solvent mixture is 150.degree. to 190.degree. C., preferably 170.degree. C. 3 to 15 percent by weight, preferably 10 percent by weight, of crude benzene is added to the charged solvent mixture.

Abstract: A mass-transfer column consisting of one or more contact zones. The contact zones are exclusively provided with packings placed in prearranged locations. In the contact zones, optimal operating conditions for the packings are created over the entire height of the contact zones in order to achieve a minimal pressure loss at a concomitant high separating efficiency. This is done by implementing a suitable gradated adaptability of the packing to the vapor and liquid loads varying over the height of the contact zones.